GURU NANAK DEV: A TRUE SAINT & REAL GURU

Guru Nanak Dev 1st Guru of Sikhs, belonged to a very humble family and from His childhood, He was all the way against superstitions. He always believed in equality amongst Hindus and Muslims. Even after five centuries, His Teachings have impact on us and still resonate in our minds. Let us once again look at His teachings, some of which are as follows:

God is One & Every Where:

Using religion to separate people into different categories is a sin. In the words of Guru Nanak “There is neither Hindu nor Muslim”

There is but One God, The Supreme Truth; The Ultimate Reality, The Creator, Without fear, Without enemies, Timeless is His image, Without Birth, Self Created, By His grace revealed.

Never Forget the Poor:

There was no concept like helping the poor and the needy during the days in 16th century but Guru Nanak gave this world the Mantra.

Guru Nanak was just 12 years old when His father gave him Rs.20 to set up a business but He bought food for the poor and needy and served them. When His father asked about the investment in business, he told that He had done “True Business”. At that very place a Gurudwara named Sacha Sauda has been set up.

Equality Amongst Men and Women:

In Hindu religion as well in Islam women were not considered as equal to men, but Guru Nanak’s preachings tell us that He promoted women to join religious gatherings in Temples and Mosques.

Evils that Ruin our Lives:

Ego

Anger

Greed

Attachment

Lust

Find Your own Guru:

Guidance is always required through Mentor. Visit to religious places or pilgrims is not required if guidance from Mentor is available.

Be Selfless:

A selfless service to the humanity is the best way to be selfless in the eyes of Guru Nanak.

Beauty in Simplicity:The concept of Guru Nanak:

VAND CHHAKO- Sharing with others

KIRT KARO- Work is worship

NAAM JAPPO- Remember God all the time

Travel:

Guru Nanak tried to travel by walking widely to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Ladakh, Tibet and almost the whole of India to gain from the experience from travel.

Fight Superstitions:

Formal rituals, casteism and the practices that make no formal sense were not being likes by Guru Nanak. So He did try to fight such practices and preached the same during his life time.

On His visit to Macca & Madina, He tried to tell people that sleeping with feet towards west did not mean that we were insulting Islam.

And on his visit to Haridwar, He tried to tell people that by offering water to Sun or the Pitras (Ancestors) did not mean that the holy water reached the Sun or the Pitras. If water could reach there then He even could cultivate/water his farm fields in Punjab.

To Get Enlightenment do not run to the Forests:

Guru Nanak preached that essence of religion is simplicity, meekness, goodness, sympathy, service to the mankind and purity in heart. Devine truth is reached even by living as a householder.